Lincoln and the Civil War exhibit at the HVCC Marvin Library. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

TROY -- The stovepipe hat that was and remains a trademark for former President Abraham Lincoln was more than just a fashionable accessory. Lincoln said it also served as a useful place for storing notes, according to a visiting exhibit at Hudson Valley Community College, that will be open to the public through the end of February, with the first of many speakers about that time period slated for today at 11 a.m.

The display, located in the college's Marvin Library, is titled Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War.

It shows images of important documents, including the Emancipation Proclamation and the Secession Ordinance from South Carolina, along with interpretations of Lincoln's actions and discussion of what that time period meant then and what its effects have been today.

"We feel so lucky to get the traveling exhibition at this point in time," said Brenda Hazard, the library director. She applied for the grant to host the exhibit and to receive funding for new books and to fund a program series on topics related to Lincoln and the Civil War time period.

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In 2008, she found that she was successful and was one of 50 libraries in the country that had been selected. Though it's been a long four years of waiting, she said the timing was wonderful due to the ongoing sesquicentennial of the Civil War and because of director Steven Spielberg's acclaimed "Lincoln" movie.

Hazard said her favorite part of the exhibit was the large, detailed portrait of Lincoln. "It's an amazing photo and shows the burden of his decision making with all the wrinkles," she said.

Along with historical aspects, the exhibit and the complementing speaker series is meant to draw different people with various interests. "This typifies what we try to do at the library with inspiring imaginations, digging deeper in studies and lifelong learning," said Hazard, noting that school and senior trips have already been scheduled for the exhibit.

Program discussions begin today at the Bulmer Telecommunications Center auditorium at 11 a.m. with speaker Dr. Paul Finkelman talking about "How a Railroad Lawyer Became the Great Emancipator." Other talks include: "Freedom's Eve: The Tradition of the Watch Night Service", Feb. 6 at noon; "The Capital Region's Role in the Story of the U.S.S. Monitor", Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.; and "Lincoln's Other Address: Making Over the Hildene Farm in Manchester, VT", March 5 at noon.

The exhibit and funding were available through the National Constitution Center, the American Library Association, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Hazard felt that the displays also highlighted the newly-renovated library space as well in the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Atrium.

The exhibit is free and open to the public in the library which has hours: Mon-Thurs. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.